Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and during the weekend it should never be rushed. In Dubai, weekend breakfasts are something of an occasion; carefree, drawn-out affairs with fabulous food and drink, and always served with a side of sunshine. Whatever whets your appetite in the morning, you’ll find it here; from mouth-watering buffets overflowing with the freshest pastries and fruits, to exquisite internationally inspired dishes made with expertly sourced ingredients. Here are our favourite places to enjoy a leisurely weekend breakfast.

Tuck into Le Parisien at Sahn Eddar

Flooded by the morning sun, there’s nowhere quite like Burj Al Arab’s grand atrium, Sahn Eddar. The light sparkles off the bright floor and water jets dance as you dine. Breakfast here immerses diners in the elegance and sophistication of a classic French brasserie, bite by bite. Dine La Parisien way on continental delights, such as oven-fresh viennoiseries from the boulangerie, with nectar-like Emirati honey. Taste the finest cheeses, from aged Comté to Brie de Meaux, and wash them down with velvety Grand Cru Valrhona hot chocolate.

Fill up with a Full English at D&A

The breakfast of champions. Scrambled eggs, earthy mushrooms, cooked tomatoes, prime bacon and sausages – the Full English is hearty and indulgent, and one of the most satisfying ways to start the day. At award-winning, British-inspired gastropub D&A, at Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Full English breakfasts are served with authentically sourced ingredients, including meats from Dingly Dell Farm, Suffolk. For those looking for something lighter, the à la carte menu has some healthy options too.

Savour a pan-global feast at Imperium

Surrounded by gilded neoclassical columns and twinkling crystal chandeliers, breakfast at the Imperium, in Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, is a regal affair. The international buffet banquet draws inspiration from across the globe, offering an eclectic range of local specialities including rich Chinese, Russian and Indian flavours. Look out for the egg trolley which will prepare eggs in 10 different styles at your table. Alternatively, tuck into a warm, homemade pastry with a strong cup of freshly prepared coffee.

Go healthy at Plumeria

Spiced avocado on sourdough, kale-based breakfast bowls, fresh fruit granola; Plumeria’s nourishing breakfasts are the tastiest way to welcome wellbeing at the weekend, loaded with life-enriching superfoods, including purple acai berries and pink pomegranates. Appointed in cool white tones, Plumeria at the wonderful Jumeirah Creekside Hotel, radiates zen. Take your weekend breakfast with a freshly pressed juice, perched at the bar or reclining in the sunshine on the terrace.

Taste the Mediterranean at Al Samar Lounge

Breakfast at Al Samar Lounge in Jumeirah Madinat takes you on a culinary tour of the Mediterranean. Load up on organic Greek yoghurt with honey and mixed nuts, homemade Italian sausage with creamy burrata cheese, or quintessentially Middle Eastern shakshuka. Sink into a sofa outside and enjoy breakfast overlooking the azure lagoon, or take a seat inside and admire Al Samar’s elegant latticework doors, rich velvet accents and filigree lanterns.

Enjoy family fun at Kitchen Connection

Cheery live cooking stations and incredible international flavours make Kitchen Connection at Jumeirah Beach Hotel a great place for a weekend breakfast. Watch world-class Chinese dim sum created in front of you, from pillowy steamed buns to tasty shumai dumplings. Or, choose a plant-based dish like a tofu omelette or an Asian frittata and your healthy breakfast will be freshly prepared at the vegan station. A light, bright welcoming space, Kitchen Connection is perfect for families. In fact, its kids’ playroom is the ideal spot for your little ones to burn off their KC Breakfast Pizza – a restaurant signature.